Passion is the invisible energy that is emblematic of all great leaders as well as great organizations. Author and motivation guru, John Maxwell once said, “A great leader’s courage to fulfill his or her vision comes from passion, not position.” Whenever I hear someone who leads with their title, I can't help but think of them as an insecure leader who identifies more with ego instead of the people they represent.
Eventual hall of fame coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich sums up this way of thinking in this philosophical quote, "For us, it's easy. We're looking for people who have gotten over themselves, and you can tell that pretty quickly. You can talk to somebody for four or five minutes, and you can tell if it's about them, or if they understand that they're a piece of the puzzle. We look for a sense of humor and feel comfortable in your own skin and that you don't have all the answers. We want people who are participatory and can handle information and not take it personally.” Popovich sets the tone for his players that he is someone who has gotten over himself, and if anyone has reason to relish in their success, it would be Pop. Having won 5 NBA titles, Popovich epitomizes being a passionate leader, and he is the first one to have his player’s backs. He gets it. He understands that passion is contagious and that it starts at the top. He’s one of those coaches who doesn’t take anything for granted. It takes passion to step toward making your dreams a reality, and this a moment-to-moment experience.
Passion is the magic elixir, the fountain of youth. When I see someone who isn’t very old by today’s standards and they look old and lethargic, I can’t help but think they just don’t have anything in their lives that excites them. This is where being in the moment and feeling passionate about every aspect of your life makes all the difference. One of my favorite motivational writers and speakers was the great, Jim Rohn. He had an applicable quote in relation to perpetuating aspects of passion. Rohn said, “The major value in life is not what you get. The major value is what you become.” What are you becoming living every minute of every day with passion? Everyone has a calling. Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will become your greatest self. It’s never too late to write the book that is your life, because the upcoming chapters haven’t been written yet. It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. All that matters is what are you going to do about it now! Make your passion for your purpose greater than your fears, and you will find a way.
